DABBLEDOOMUSIC

TEACHER RESOURCE PACK 1

GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL IRISH INSTRUMENTS

DABBLEDOOMUSIC

Teacher Resource Pack 1

Guide to Traditional Irish Instruments

Welcome to the first of our teacher resource packs. It focuses on instruments used to perform traditional Irish music. In the pages that follow, you will see the fiddle, accordian, guitar, bodhrán, uileann pipes and the flute.

We have created six versions of each that are in the following order:

Full colour poster (this provides you with the answers to the worksheets) Basic colour posterInfants worksheetFirst and second class worksheetThird and fourth class worksheetFifth and sixth class worksheet

The worksheets range from a colouring in exercise for infants, all the way up to a reading and ‘name the parts’ exercise for fifth and sixth classes. All worksheets are in greyscale and printer/photocopier friendly.

We hope you enjoy using these worksheets in your class and, as ever, we would welcome any feedback you might have.

Best wishes,

Shane, Killian and Chris

DABBLEDOOMUSICTHE FUN WAY TO LEARN ABOUT MUSIC

TEACHER RESOURCE PACK 1 - GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL IRISH INSTRUMENTS

The fiddle is a common instrument in folk and traditional music. In Irish traditional music, it is mainly used to play fast jigs and reels.

It’s strings are stretched from nut to tailpiece and tuned using tuning pegs.

The strings are played by moving a bow back and forth over them. The player holds the strings down on the fingerboard to play di�erent notes. The sound escapes through the f-holes and this is what we hear.

Fingerboard

Bridge

Chinrest

F-hole

Tailpiece

Bow

Nut

Tuning pegs

FIDDLE

FIDDLE

FIDDLE

The fiddle is a common instrument in folk and traditional music. In Irish traditional music, it is mainly used to play fast jigs and reels.

The strings are played by moving a bow back and forth over them.

The player holds the strings down on the fingerboard to play di�erent notes.

The sound escapes through the f-holes and this is what we hear.

Drones

FIDDLECan you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.

The fiddle is a common instrument in folk and traditional music. In Irish traditional music, it is mainly used to play fast jigs and reels.

It’s strings are tuned using tuning pegs. The strings are played by moving a bow back and forth over them.

The player holds the strings down on the fingerboard to play di�erent notes. The sound escapes through the f-holes and this is what we hear.

Drones

FIDDLECan you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.

The fiddle is a common instrument in folk and traditional music. In Irish traditional music, it is mainly used to play fast jigs and reels.

It’s strings are stretched from nut to tailpiece and tuned using tuning pegs.

The strings are played by moving a bow back and forth over them. The player holds the strings down on the fingerboard to play di�erent notes. The sound escapes through the f-holes and this is what we hear.

Drones

Can you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.FIDDLE

The accordion was invented in the early 1800s in Austria. It became very popular as it was portable and loud, especially with Italians emigrating to the United States during the Gold Rush. Today it is found in folk music in Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Colombia.

As the bellows are pumped, air moves over the reed blocks located inside. These reed blocks act like little harmonicas and create di�erent sounds depending on what the player does. The sound then comes out through the grill.

The treble keyboard can be used to play the melody of a song while the bass buttons can be used to provide the accompaniment. This is why the accordion is often referred to as a ‘one man band’.

Treble keyboard

Grill

Bass buttons

Bellows

ACCORDION

ACCORDION

ACCORDION

The accordion was invented in the early 1800s in Austria. It became very popular as it was portable and loud. Today it is found in folk music inIreland and Mexico.

As the bellows are pumped, air moves through the accordian and creates dierent sounds depending on what keys are pressed. The sound then comes out through the grill.

You can play melody and chords at the same time and that is why the accordion is often called a ‘one man band’.

Grill

Bellows

ACCORDION

The accordion was invented in the early 1800s in Austria. It became very popular as it was portable and loud. Today it is found in folk music in Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Colombia.

As the bellows are pumped, air moves through the accordion and creates dierent sounds depending on what keys are pressed. The sound then comes out through the grill.

The treble keyboard can be used to play the melody of a song while the bass buttons can be used to provide the accompaniment. This is why the accordion is often referred to as a ‘one man band’.

Treble keyboard

Grill

Bass buttons

Bellows

ACCORDION

The accordion was invented in the early 1800s in Austria. It became very popular as it was portable and loud, especially with Italians emigrating to the United States during the Gold Rush. Today it is found in folk music in Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Colombia.

As the bellows are pumped, air moves over the reed blocks located inside. These reed blocks act like little harmonicas and create dierent sounds depending on what keys are pressed. The sound then comes out through the grill.

The treble keyboard can be used to play the melody of a song while the bass buttons can be used to provide the accompaniment. This is why the accordion is often referred to as a ‘one man band’.

Treble keyboard

Grill

Bass buttons

Bellows

ACCORDION

The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is used a lot in folk, blues, pop and rock music.

Its strings are stretched from the saddle to the nut and are tightened using the tuning pegs.

Fingers are placed on the fretboard beside the frets to give di�erent notes. The player then either strums the strings using a pick, or plucks the individual strings using their fingers.

The sound vibrates through the body of the guitar and is amplified through the sound hole.

Fret

Sound hole

Fretboard

Nut

Tuning peg

Saddle

Body

GUITAR

GUITAR

GUITAR

The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is used a lot in folk and rock music.

The left hand holds the strings down to make notes on the fretboard, and the right hand hits the strings so we can hear the notes.

The sound of the notes travels through the body of the guitar and comes out through the sound hole.

Sound hole

Fretboard

Body

GUITAR

The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is used a lot in folk, blues, pop and rock music.

Fingers are placed on the fretboard beside the frets to give di�erent notes. The player then either strums the strings using a pick, or plucks the individual strings using their fingers.

The sound vibrates through the body of the guitar and is amplified through the sound hole.

Fret

Sound hole

Fretboard

Body

GUITAR

The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and is used a lot in folk, blues, pop and rock music.

Its strings are stretched from the saddle to the nut and are tightened using the tuning pegs.

Fingers are placed on the fretboard beside the frets to give di�erent notes. The player then either strums the strings using a pick, or plucks the individual strings using their fingers.

The sound vibrates through the body of the guitar and is amplified through the sound hole.

Fret

Sound hole

Fretboard

Nut

Tuning peg

Saddle

Body

GUITAR

Skin

Tipper

Frame

The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum that dates back to the mid 1800s. It replaced the tambourine in traditional Irish music and was known as the ‘poor man’s tambourine’ as it did not have cymbals on the side.

It consists of a circular wooden frame with a goatskin stretched across it. The skin is played with a small stick in one hand known as a tipper. The other hand is placed on the other side of the skin to control the pitch of the sounds made.

Some bodhráns had more than one use and were often used to store grain and separate stones from soil!

BODHRÁN

BODHRÁN

BODHRÁN

Skin

Tipper

Frame

The bodhrán is an Irish drum that is around 150 years old.

It has a wooden frame with a goatskin stretched across it.

The skin is played with a small stick in one hand known as a tipper.

The other hand is placed on the other side of the skin to hold the drum.

BODHRÁN

Skin

Tipper

Frame

The bodhrán is an Irish drum that is around 150 years old.

It consists of a circular wooden frame with a goatskin stretched across it.

The skin is played with a small stick in one hand known as a tipper.

The other hand is placed on the other side of the skin to hold the drum.

BODHRÁN

Skin

Tipper

Frame

The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum that dates back to the mid 1800s. It replaced the tambourine in traditional Irish music and was known as the ‘poor man’s tambourine’ as it did not have cymbals on the side.

It consists of a circular wooden frame with a goatskin stretched across it. The skin is played with a small stick in one hand known as a tipper. The other hand is placed on the other side of the skin to control the pitch of the sounds made.

Some bodhráns had more than one use and were often used to store grain and separate stones from soil!

BODHRÁN

The uilleann pipes are the national bagpipe of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish term ‘píopaí uilleann’, which means ‘pipes of the elbow.

The player uses their right elbow to suck air in through the bellows, which is connected to the bag. They use their left elbow to squeeze the bag which pushes air through the pipes. This means that they don’t need to blow air in with their mouth as with other bagpipes.

They play the melody on the chanter, which has seven holes on it. They play chords on the thirteen regulators. Drones are the loud, long sounds created by the longest pipes. When everything is put together it sounds like more than one instrument!

BellowsBag

Chanter

Stock

Drones

Regulators

UILLEANN PIPES

UILLEANN PIPES

UILLEANN PIPES

The uilleann pipes are the national bagpipe of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish term ‘píopaí uilleann’, which means ‘pipes of the elbow’.

The player uses their right elbow to suck air in through the bellows, which is connected to the bag. They use their left elbow to squeeze the bag which pushes air through the pipes. This means that they don’t need to blow air in with their mouth as with other bagpipes.

They play the melody on the chanter, which has seven holes on it. When everything is put together it sounds like more than one instrument!

BellowsBag

Chanter

UILLEANN PIPESCan you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.

The uilleann pipes are the national bagpipe of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish term ‘píopaí uilleann’, which means ‘pipes of the elbow’.

The player uses their right elbow to suck air in through the bellows, which is connected to the bag. They use their left elbow to squeeze the bag which pushes air through the pipes. This means that they don’t need to blow air in with their mouth as with other bagpipes.

They play the melody on the chanter, which has seven holes on it. Drones are the loud, long sounds created by the longest pipes. When everything is put together it sounds like more than one instrument!

BellowsBag

ChanterDrones

UILLEANN PIPESCan you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.

The uilleann pipes are the national bagpipe of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish term ‘píopaí uilleann’, which means ‘pipes of the elbow.

The player uses their right elbow to suck air in through the bellows, which is connected to the bag. They use their left elbow to squeeze the bag which pushes air through the pipes. This means that they don’t need to blow air in with their mouth as with other bagpipes.

They play the melody on the chanter, which has seven holes on it. They play chords on the thirteen regulators. Drones are the loud, long sounds created by the longest pipes. When everything is put together it sounds like more than one instrument!

BellowsBag

ChanterDrones

Regulators

UILLEANN PIPESCan you name the parts? Use the text at the end to help you.

The flute is one of the oldest known instruments, with the oldest known flutes to be 42,000 years old! These ancient flutes were made from animal bones, whereas today’s flutes are made from metals like silver, nickel and brass. The flute pictured here is known as a western concert flute.

At the top there is the head joint. This contains the lip plate, across which air is blown by the player, known as a flautist.

This air stream moves through the flute and di�erent notes are made by controlling the finger keys on the body.

The foot joint is the lowest section of the flute.

Finger Keys Head Joint

Body

Foot Joint

Lip Plate

FLUTE

FLUTE

FLUTE

The flute is one of the oldest known instruments, with the oldest known flutes to be 42,000 years old! These ancient flutes were made from animal bones, whereas the flute pictured here is made from metal.

This is a western concert flute. At the top there is the head joint. This contains the lip plate, across which air is blown by the player, known as a flautist.

This air moves through the flute and dierent notes are made by controlling the finger keys on the body.

Finger Keys

Body

Lip Plate

FLUTE

The flute is one of the oldest known instruments, with the oldest known flutes to be 42,000 years old! These ancient flutes were made from animal bones, whereas the flute pictured here is made from metal.

This is a western concert flute. At the top there is the head joint. This contains the lip plate, across which air is blown by the player, known as a flautist.

This air moves through the flute and dierent notes are made by controlling the finger keys on the body.

Finger Keys Head Joint

Body

Lip Plate

FLUTE

The flute is one of the oldest known instruments, with the oldest known flutes to be 42,000 years old! These ancient flutes were made from animal bones, whereas today’s flutes are made from metals like silver, nickel and brass. The flute pictured here is known as a western concert flute.

At the top there is the head joint. This contains the lip plate, across which air is blown by the player, known as a flautist.

This air stream moves through the flute and dierent notes are made by controlling the finger keys on the body.

The foot joint is the lowest section of the flute.

Finger Keys Head Joint

Body

Foot Joint

Lip Plate

FLUTE

COVERFIDDLE FULL COLOURACCORDIAN FULL POSTER NO BACKGROUNDFULL POSTER UILLEANN PIPESBASIC POSTER UILLEANN PIPESFLUTE FULL COLOURFLUTE BASIC COLOUR